Source: BigTen.org
Posted: Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:53:00 PM EST
Published: Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:54:48 PM EST
Posted: Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:53:00 PM EST
Published: Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:54:48 PM EST
Big Ten Men's Preview
In the 95th running of the Big Ten Men's Cross Country Championships, No. 15 Wisconsin looks to continue its dominance in the event after collecting its conference record 10th-consecutive team title in 2008. The Badgers will have their shot at number 11 on Sunday, Nov. 1 in University Park, Pa., where all 10 conference squads will meet on the Penn State University White Golf Course to compete in the 5.2 mile race, slated to begin at 10:45 a.m. ET.
Under the direction of 2008 head coach of the year Mick Byrne, Wisconsin boasts a roster featuring 12 freshman and just eight returning letterwinners this season. Sophomore Landon Peacock will look to improve on his runner-up status from last year after earning Freshman of the Year laurels in 2007. He is joined by first-team All-Big Ten selections Jack Bolas and second-team All-Big Ten honoree Craig Miller.
Michigan looks to end the Badgers winning streak with multiple talented runners of its own. Senior Sean McNamara returns as the only Wolverine in the top 10 at the 2008 event, placing sixth. However, senior Peter Christmas is also poised for a breakout performance in step with his three top-five finishes this year, including his first-ever collegiate win at the Michigan Intercollegiate. The Wolverines will be in the hunt for their 10th conference championship, owning nine titles dating back to 1922.
Minnesota enters Sunday's contest with an eye on the team title, powered by reigning Cross Country Athlete of the Year Hassan Mead, who returns to the scene after taking top individual honors in 2008. He is joined by a trio of seasoned veterans in Matt Barrett, Ben Blankenship and Mike Torchia, who all posted top-30 finishes last season.
The No. 18-ranked Indiana Hoosiers will look to improve on their fifth-place showing from last year's championship. The young Hoosier squad will turn to sophomore Andrew Poore for leadership from as he was Indiana's top returning finisher in last year's meet, placing 17th to narrowly miss all-conference distinction. Poore will turn to fellow 2008 Cross Country Runners of the Week in Hoosier freshmen Andy Bayer and Zachary Mayhew to help carry the Indiana load.
Host Penn State will rely on 2008 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten honoree Kyle Dawson, to better the Nittany Lions' fourth-place finish from last year. Dawson will be joined by a talented group of returners, including fellow sophomore Vince McNally, as the Nittany Lions challenge for another finish in the top tier of the
Big Ten standings.
Big Ten Women's Preview
All 11 conference schools, including six of the top 30 of the latest USTFCCCA national rankings, will invade University Park, Pa., this Sunday, Nov. 1 for the 29th running of the Big Ten Women's Cross Country Championships. The 6,000-meter race will be held on the Penn State University Blue Golf Course with an approximate start time of 11:45 a.m. ET.
The No. 15-ranked Minnesota women's cross country team will enter Sunday's championship in the hunt for its third-consecutive Big Ten title. The Gophers edged Wisconsin by a narrow four points at last year's event to capture only their second team crown in program history. Sitting ahead of the defending champion in the national rankings is Illinois, checking in at No. 13. The two Big Ten frontrunners are followed closely by No. 18 Penn State, with No. 22 Michigan, No. 23 Iowa and No. 27 Michigan State rounding out the conference contingent among the nation's top 30.
Minnesota will look to uphold its reputation for winning with depth as reigning Coach of the Year Gary Wilson returns five members from the 2008 squad, all seasoned seniors primed to lead the charge at this year's event. The Maroon and Gold insurgence is headlined by 2008 All-Big Ten first team selection Megan Duwell, who enters Sunday's championship as the top returning finisher from 2008. She will be joined by three veteran teammates in Jamie Cheever, Amy Laskowske and Mallory Vann Ness as Minnesota returns four of its five top-20 finishers from a year ago.
The Illini will look to senior Angela Bizzarri for leadership as the three-time All-Big Ten first team honoree will be competing for her fourth top-10 finish in as many conference championship appearances. Sophomore Kristin Sutherland will also provide depth for the Orange and Blue after placing inside the top 20 in 2008.
Host Penn State will look to turn some heads at this year's event and improve from last year's seventh-place team finish. Senior Bridget Franek will lace up for the last time on her home course where she will look to garner her third-straight top-10 finish, having posted ninth- and sixth- place showings in her past two conference championship events. Franek will be joined by junior Leah Rosenfeld and sophomore Caitlin Lane, who opened the 2009 campaign with a Big Ten Cross Country Runner of the Week laurel.
Also looking to return to the awards podium are Indiana's Wendi Robinson and Wisconsin's Hanna Grinaker and Caitlin Comfort.
In the 95th running of the Big Ten Men's Cross Country Championships, No. 15 Wisconsin looks to continue its dominance in the event after collecting its conference record 10th-consecutive team title in 2008. The Badgers will have their shot at number 11 on Sunday, Nov. 1 in University Park, Pa., where all 10 conference squads will meet on the Penn State University White Golf Course to compete in the 5.2 mile race, slated to begin at 10:45 a.m. ET.
Under the direction of 2008 head coach of the year Mick Byrne, Wisconsin boasts a roster featuring 12 freshman and just eight returning letterwinners this season. Sophomore Landon Peacock will look to improve on his runner-up status from last year after earning Freshman of the Year laurels in 2007. He is joined by first-team All-Big Ten selections Jack Bolas and second-team All-Big Ten honoree Craig Miller.
Michigan looks to end the Badgers winning streak with multiple talented runners of its own. Senior Sean McNamara returns as the only Wolverine in the top 10 at the 2008 event, placing sixth. However, senior Peter Christmas is also poised for a breakout performance in step with his three top-five finishes this year, including his first-ever collegiate win at the Michigan Intercollegiate. The Wolverines will be in the hunt for their 10th conference championship, owning nine titles dating back to 1922.
Minnesota enters Sunday's contest with an eye on the team title, powered by reigning Cross Country Athlete of the Year Hassan Mead, who returns to the scene after taking top individual honors in 2008. He is joined by a trio of seasoned veterans in Matt Barrett, Ben Blankenship and Mike Torchia, who all posted top-30 finishes last season.
The No. 18-ranked Indiana Hoosiers will look to improve on their fifth-place showing from last year's championship. The young Hoosier squad will turn to sophomore Andrew Poore for leadership from as he was Indiana's top returning finisher in last year's meet, placing 17th to narrowly miss all-conference distinction. Poore will turn to fellow 2008 Cross Country Runners of the Week in Hoosier freshmen Andy Bayer and Zachary Mayhew to help carry the Indiana load.
Host Penn State will rely on 2008 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten honoree Kyle Dawson, to better the Nittany Lions' fourth-place finish from last year. Dawson will be joined by a talented group of returners, including fellow sophomore Vince McNally, as the Nittany Lions challenge for another finish in the top tier of the
Big Ten standings.
Big Ten Women's Preview
All 11 conference schools, including six of the top 30 of the latest USTFCCCA national rankings, will invade University Park, Pa., this Sunday, Nov. 1 for the 29th running of the Big Ten Women's Cross Country Championships. The 6,000-meter race will be held on the Penn State University Blue Golf Course with an approximate start time of 11:45 a.m. ET.
The No. 15-ranked Minnesota women's cross country team will enter Sunday's championship in the hunt for its third-consecutive Big Ten title. The Gophers edged Wisconsin by a narrow four points at last year's event to capture only their second team crown in program history. Sitting ahead of the defending champion in the national rankings is Illinois, checking in at No. 13. The two Big Ten frontrunners are followed closely by No. 18 Penn State, with No. 22 Michigan, No. 23 Iowa and No. 27 Michigan State rounding out the conference contingent among the nation's top 30.
Minnesota will look to uphold its reputation for winning with depth as reigning Coach of the Year Gary Wilson returns five members from the 2008 squad, all seasoned seniors primed to lead the charge at this year's event. The Maroon and Gold insurgence is headlined by 2008 All-Big Ten first team selection Megan Duwell, who enters Sunday's championship as the top returning finisher from 2008. She will be joined by three veteran teammates in Jamie Cheever, Amy Laskowske and Mallory Vann Ness as Minnesota returns four of its five top-20 finishers from a year ago.
The Illini will look to senior Angela Bizzarri for leadership as the three-time All-Big Ten first team honoree will be competing for her fourth top-10 finish in as many conference championship appearances. Sophomore Kristin Sutherland will also provide depth for the Orange and Blue after placing inside the top 20 in 2008.
Host Penn State will look to turn some heads at this year's event and improve from last year's seventh-place team finish. Senior Bridget Franek will lace up for the last time on her home course where she will look to garner her third-straight top-10 finish, having posted ninth- and sixth- place showings in her past two conference championship events. Franek will be joined by junior Leah Rosenfeld and sophomore Caitlin Lane, who opened the 2009 campaign with a Big Ten Cross Country Runner of the Week laurel.
Also looking to return to the awards podium are Indiana's Wendi Robinson and Wisconsin's Hanna Grinaker and Caitlin Comfort.
